Minister’s comment sparks uproar in Bihar Houses

He was caught in video asking a crowd to hit PM photo with shoes

Up in arms: BJP legislators staging a demonstration at the Bihar Assembly in Patna on Wednesday.

A Bihar Minister has been caught on camera asking a crowd at a note ban protest to hit with shoes the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sparking condemnation and kicking up a ruckus in the State Legislature.

BJP members staged a protest in the Assembly on Wednesday demanding sacking of the Congress Minister Abdul Jalil Mastan, who was present in the House, and registration of a sedition case against him.

CM flays action

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condemned his colleague’s action caught on video that was telecast on a local TV channel on Tuesday while the Congress and Mr. Mastan expressed regret.

However, this did not satisfy the BJP whose members forced adjournment of both the Houses till 2 P.M. over the issue and subsequent adjournment for the day.

The video is of a gathering at the Amour Assembly constituency of Mr. Mastan in Purnea district that was convened on February 22 to protest against demonetisation and for “failing to end” the resultant woes.

In the video, Mr. Mastan, who is the State’s Excise and Prohibition Minister, was heard telling the crowd that it was the Prime Minister who had said that if he failed to end people’s woes within 50 days of demonetisation, he was prepared to face any punishment.

The video shows the MLA purportedly telling the people to hit the Prime Minister’s photograph with shoes. A few supporters then hit the photograph of Mr. Narendra Modi kept on a chair on the stage with shoes when the Minister was present on the dais.

‘Sack Mastan’

“One can have ideological differences. But, the Constitution does not allow a person, who is a minister in a state, to incite a crowd and to humiliate a Prime Minister in this manner,” senior BJP leader Sushil Modi told PTI.

“If Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has any morality he should immediately sack Mastan from Cabinet,” he added.

State Congress president and Minister Ashok Choudhary told reporters that his party was against making “uncharitable comments” on people holding Constitutional posts.

Mr. Mastan, escorted by Mr. Choudhary, later expressed regret for his comment.

“If my utterances have hurt anybody I express regret,” Mr. Mastan told reporters.

When his reaction was sought over the Minister’s utterances, Mr. Kumar told reporters, “It’s wrong to make uncharitable comments.”

As the House reconvened in the Assembly, leader of opposition Prem Kumar raised the issue and demanded immediate sacking of Mr. Mastan and registration of sedition case against him.

Led by Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP members forced adjournment of the Council too over the issue.